Coolant change how to

[NobbyClarke172]

Went to change the coolant yesterday, was intending to just pop off the bottom hose but quickly realised there was a lump of metal in the way

What's the best way of getting hands and tools in to spread the clip ?

 

[Budgie]

Front bumper off.
Then one of these from the top:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Neilsen-F...471?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item3cf77ff34f

If you don't have these, you can use plumbers wrenches to undo the clamps from underneath

 

[NobbyClarke172]

Cheers, so defo bumper off or with contortionists hands with grips from below ?

 

[Budgie]

I take the bumper off either way as it only takes 2 mins. Use some well cut cardboard to guide the coolant into a bucket when draining, or it'll splash on the subframe and go all over the deck.

 

[RS Charlie]

Cheers for the thread. I am about to change the coolant myself . However, does the bumper have to come off or can you simply remove the injector shield, bung in the clip releasers (I already have that too ) and drain it that way?

I am in two minds of changing mine ; there is no history of the coolant being changed in the car despite it looking clean, and a specialist reckoned my thermostat could do with a change. On some trips the needle sits slightly below halfway or half way, whereas a friend's tends to sit at slightly above halfway all of the time.

My shopping list was going to include the following:

-Type D coolant
-Genuine Renault thermostat with seal.

However, I am informed that upon filling the cooling system you have to release the bleed screw until the air comes out, retighten it upon the air being expelled and continue as normal. Does this sound right to you guys or am I missing something else?

 

[da rok]

I managed to get the pipe off with out taking the bumper off, would have been much easier to just take the bumper off though ill admit, i didnt bother with the bleed screws, just ran the engine for a while and topped up as needed in the drive way till it went around 10 mins without dropping again...

 

[Rubicon_]

Id of thought you'd still need to open the bleed screw. Theres probably air in there you don't want.

 

[Budgie]

Id of thought you'd still need to open the bleed screw. Theres probably air in there you don't want.

You don't have to TBH. It will self bleed, just takes a lot longer.

 

[da rok]

Ive had a few bad experiences with bleed screws snapping on bmws... leaving you with a nice little water fountain so i dont use the bleed screws unless i have to...